They're all beautiful .....makes you wonder how anyone can kill them just for the 'fun' of it?

When B-I-L owned Ryber Castle Fauna Reserve in Matlock, Derbyshire (about 20 years ago now) they had some wolves up there.  Very eery when they 'cried' at night but beautiful creatures, especially in winter with their thick coats.   F.I.L (aged 80) used to prepare their daily food and he had names for all the animals -Vicky the vixen was his favourite, and she would cry and roll over when she heard him coming. They also kept Lynx which again with their winter coats and against the early frosts in morning were just stunning to see.

We were due to go out on a birthday bash one summer's evening and John a younger member of the team said he would lock the animals in that night for us.
He went into the bear pen with his tea-time dinner......shut the 1st gate behind him and then the 2nd.  The bear reared up and 'spooked' John, he ran out forgetting to lock the gates behind him and the bear followed!!!
Needless to say the bear was making his way down Tansley into Matlock. We called vet and police, B.I.L got tranquilizer gun ready etc. and proceeded down hill after bear.
F.I.L  who's only 4'10" passed Pete and started calling and talking to the bear!!! He stopped, turned round and saw it was F.I.L and proceeded to start back up the hill......F.I.L was unwrapping his favourite toffees and putting them on ground for bear to pick up and eat!! After an hour we got him back in pen and safely locked up ...a month later he went to live in zoo in Edinburgh as he had outgrown his pen.

Christine xxx
Christine xxx